Charter schools in Appleton, WI
14 schools in Appleton, 6 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.
Public charter schools (tuition-free)
Appleton charter schools at a glance
14 public charter schools give Appleton as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 6 more are within 15 miles. The 14 in town had about 2,745 students in 2024-25. 7 teach elementary grades and 7 teach high school. 2 are mostly or fully online. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.
Charter schools in Appleton (14)
Largest first. Enrollment and teachers are from 2024-25; schools new in 2025-26 have no count yet.
| Charter school | Grades | Students (2024-25) | Per teacher | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Connections AcademyFully online | PK-12 | 743 | 32.6 | (920) 852-5415 |
| Classical School | K-8 | 487 | 18.3 | (920) 852-5525 |
| Kaleidoscope Academy | 6-8 | 456 | 12.1 | (920) 852-5430 |
| Stephen Foster Elementary Charter | PK-5 | 200 | 9.6 | (920) 852-5470 |
| Renaissance School | 9-12 | 151 | 36 | (920) 852-5611 |
| Fox River Academy | K-8 | 150 | 17.8 | (920) 852-5500 |
| Tesla Engineering Charter School | 9-12 | 147 | 40.8 | (920) 852-5400 |
| Appleton Bilingual School | K-5 | 139 | 16.4 | (920) 852-5495 |
| Fox Cities Leadership Academy | 9-12 | 78 | 35.5 | (920) 852-5405 |
| Appleton Technical Academy | 9-12 | 68 | 23.2 | (920) 852-5410 |
| Valley New School | 6-12 | 68 | 16.6 | (920) 852-5605 |
| Appleton eSchoolFully online | 7-12 | 35 | 7.3 | (920) 852-5608 |
| The Omolade Academy | K-3 | 23 | 6.6 | (920) 852-5329 |
| Hmong American Immersion School | PK-4 | new in 2025-26 | (920) 852-5505 |
Nearby, within 15 miles (6)
Charter schools in other towns, nearest first. Online schools are left out here because their address is an office.
| Charter school | Grades | Students (2024-25) | Per teacher | Town | Miles | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton Public Montessori | PK-6 | 149 | 19.1 | Grand Chute | 3 | (920) 852-5515 |
| Little Chute Career Pathways Academy | 9-12 | 93 | 15.5 | Little Chute | 4 | (920) 788-7600 |
| New Directions Learning Community | PK-4 | 270 | 16.1 | Kaukauna | 6 | (920) 766-6116 |
| Park Community Charter School | PK-4 | 256 | 14.1 | Kaukauna | 6 | (920) 766-6129 |
| ACE Alliance Charter Elementary | PK-6 | 225 | 18.1 | Neenah | 8 | (920) 751-6995 |
| Fox West Academy | 6-8 | 65 | 21.7 | Hortonville | 13 | (920) 779-7922 |
Charter schools: how they work
- Public and free. NCES describes a public charter school as a publicly funded school, usually run by a group or organization under a contract (the charter) with the state, the district or another body. The federal definition says a charter school does not charge tuition.
- Families choose it. Under the same definition, a charter school is one parents choose to send their children to, and it admits students by lottery when more apply than it has room for.
- Its own rules, its own accountability. The charter frees the school from some state or local rules; in return it must meet the standards written in its charter. It is nonsectarian.
- No program badge. ChoiceFunded’s program badges and “schools that accept” lists cover private schools only. Charter schools are listed separately here, with no badge, and are never counted with private schools.
Sources: 20 U.S.C. 7221i (federal Charter Schools Program definitions); NCES, Condition of Education: Public Charter School Enrollment. Each state writes its own charter law, so ask the school how enrollment works there.
Keep looking
Questions parents ask
How many charter schools are in Appleton?
14 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Appleton, and 6 more are within 15 miles. Wisconsin Connections Academy, Classical School, Kaleidoscope Academy, Stephen Foster Elementary Charter, Renaissance School, Fox River Academy and others.
Do charter schools in Appleton charge tuition?
No. Charter schools are public schools, and the federal definition of a charter school says it does not charge tuition. Ask each school about fees for extras.
How do I enroll in a Appleton charter school?
Apply to each school directly. Under the federal definition, a charter school admits students by lottery when more apply than it has room for, so check each school’s application dates. Each state writes its own charter law.
School facts: U.S. Department of Education, Common Core of Data (2025-26 directory, 2024-25 enrollment and staff). Where our data comes from.